Venetian blind clamp



Feb. 9, 1937.

B. BENNETT VENETIAN BLIND CLAMP Filed July 3, 1935 INVENTR. gf/W' 4 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND CLAMP Ben Bennett, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1935, Serial No. 29,622

'l Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Venetianblinds and pertains more particularly to an attachment therefor, whereby the slats of which the blind is composed may be adjusted to 5 vary the4 amount of air and/or light passing therebetween.

In the normal operation of a Venetian blind as at present employed, the slats thereof are moved as a complete unit, viz: theymay be tilted to vary the angularity of the slats and raised and lowered in such tilted position; or may be fully opened or closed or disposed in any of the intermediate positions between complete opening and closing of the blind. When the standard Vene- 15 tian blind is raised, the slats comprising the same fold or collapse against one another from the bottom upward, thus producing a blind spot through which light or air ineiiectually enters,

thus eliminating ventilation to a marked degree at that portion of the window opening over which 2O the blind is collapsed. Further, when the Venetion blind is elevated, this blind spot travels in an upward direction so that the central or upper portion of the window opening is completely closed against free ventilation or observation.

The primary important object of this invention is to provide means for overcoming the foregoing objections by selectively controlling and maintaining the-angular position of a predetermined number of slats relative to each other, as Well as the position of the blind spot occurring with the standard Venetian blind.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an attachment of the above character which may be engaged at predetermined positions with the slat supporting elements of a blind and in connecting relation to the operating means thereof to effect and maintain various adjustments of the slats below the attachment during the actuation of the operating. means.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an attachment including means for regulating the effective length of the pull cord so that a portion of the slats forming the blind may be collapsed against each other while the remainder of the slats above. such collapsed portion may be tilted to various positions independently thereof.

A further object of the `invention is the provision of an attachment which will permit a portion of the slats forming the blind to close against each other from a point intermediate the length of the blind in an upward direction while permitting the slats below such closed portion to be maintained in xed open or closed position n while permitting the slats above the so formed blind portion to be moved to varying positions between the fully opened -or closed positions during the raising of the blind.

A still further object of this invention is to 5 provide a device of the -above character which is simple'in construction, and economical in manufacture.

These and other objects will be apparent throughout the course of the following description and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Venetian blind, provided with the attachment,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the slats of the blind in their open position,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken through a pair of Slat supporting members, showing the attachment in plan,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the attachment on an enlarged scale, showing one of the jaw members in open position,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a still further enlarged fragmentary View, showing the attachmentconnected to the slat supporting straps and to the pull cord, the latter being in position preparatory to collapsing the upper portion of the blind, while permitting the slats of the lower portion thereof to remain in their partly open position, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the attachment, the jaw members of which latter are in partly open position. 35

In the drawing, 5 designates an overhead casing in which is arranged the usual operating mechanism (not shown) ,for raising and lowering the blind. The blind, which is of usual form, includes horizontally spaced slats 6 and an operating cord 1, the lower end of which latter is connected to the lowermost slat and extends freely in a vertical direction through alined openings provided in the remaining slats.

The slats B of thel blind are held in horizontal 4R spaced relation by spaced flexible tapes 8 and 9, each of which has its opposite free end connected to the operating mechanism (not shown) and which extends around and is connected to r ythe opposite edges of each of the slats, and to the lowermost slat I0.

The attachment to which the invention relates consists of a frame I|- of substantially U-form having a bight portion I la, and arms Hb and llc formed or struck from metal or other suitable material.

The frame II has pivotally connected to the bight portion IIa thereof a pair of spaced independent clamping elements. Each of these elements, which are of substantially U-form, includes a toothed bar I2 and a base bar or bight portion I2a which is pivotallyf connected to the bight portion I Ia of the frame I I by means of rivets IId. The opposite arm I2b of each of the clamping elements is provided with an inwardly extending free end I2c and forms a post around which the operating cord 1 may be looped and which further provides a handle for swinging the toothed bar I2 into and out of clamping relation with the adjacent arm IIb or IIc of the frame.

One of the devices shown in its entirety in Figs. 4 and 8 is disposed between a pair of slats and each of the independent clamping elements carried by frame II is then swung about its pivot IILZ so that its toothed bar I2 will clamp one of the vertical lengths of the tape 8 against the adjacent arm IIb, while the other of said clamping devices is pivoted so that its toothed bar I 2 will clamp the other vertical length of the tape 8 against the adjacent arm IIc of the frame. In other words, the main frame is arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 3 so that both vertical tape lengths of the same tape on opposite sides of the yVenetian blind are engaged by a single attachment.

The free end of each toothed bar I2 of each clamping device is provided with a small U- shaped latch I3, which is pivoted thereto so that said latch may be swung over the adjacent terminal nger I4 formed on each free end of the main frame to secure the toothed bar I2 and thereby the tape in clamping engagement with the adjacent arm of the frame.

Each of the clamping elements of each main frame is provided with cord retaining posts I2b about which the operating cord 'I of the Venetian blind may be looped or otherwise connected, as shown in Fig. 7 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Two similar attachments are used on each Venetian blind which includes right and left tapes, as shown in Fig. 1. These attachments are clamped in place to the tapes 8 and 9, so that each attachment will clamp the front and rear vertical lengths of each tape, the action developed on one of the tapes 8 willbe duplicated on the other of the tapes 9.

If the cord is looped around the forward arm I2b of the attachment, the front strap `engaged by the same attachment will be raised, and the slats of the Venetian blind below the attachment can be closed to a point adjacent the attachment, while the slats above the attachment may be tilted independently of the lower slats. By looping the cord around the rear arm of the same attachment, the angle of tilting of the upper slats as well as the lower slats may be reversed.

By looping the cord around both the front and rear arms I2b of the same attachment, the slats of the blind below theattachment may be secured in either open or closed position, while the slats of the blind above the attachment may be adjusted to either open or closed positions, or partially open or partially closed positions.

By means of my attachment the center of a window can be kept free of complete obstruction, as the slats will also fold upon themselves to closed positions above the level at which th attachment is clamped to the tapes, and all of the slats below thel attachment will remain in any condition of adjustment eected and no folding of these slats will take place when the blind is raised.

By adjusting the slots so thatpartial or maximum ventilation is permitted, the blind may be raised tov any position with reference to its window, and complete obstruction of the Window avoided. The slats may be adjusted with either an upward forward tilt, or an upward rearward tilt, and in any degree of opening.

The attachments are relatively inexpensive and can be connected in place with little skill. When attached it is easy, when desired, to change the location of the attachments, or to completely remove the same from the Venetian blind.

Having described my invention I claim:-

l. A device of the character described, including a substantially U-shaped frame, a pair of independent spaced clamping elements each movably connected to the bight portion of the frame, each of said clamping elements having a part formed to be moved into clamping relation to an adjacent arm of theV frame, and means carried by each of said clamping elements to which'the pull cord of a Venetian blind may be connected, to vary the eiective length of said pull cord and to retain the clamping element in its operative position.

2. A device of the character described, including a substantially U-shaped frame, a pair of independent spaced clamping elements each movably connected to the bight portion of the frame, each of said clamping elements having a part formed to be moved in clamping relation to an adjacent arm of the frame, means carried by said clamping elements for locking the latter to the adjacent arm of the frame in clamping relation thereto, and means carried by each of said clamping elements to which the pull cord of a Venetian blind may be connected whereby to vary the effective length of said pull cord.

3. For use with a Venetian blind, having a cord for collapsing the slats thereof, a substantially U-shaped frame, an independent substantially spaced U-shaped clamping member pivotally connected to the bight portion of the main frame adjacent each arm of the latterwhereby to receive a slat supporting tape in clamped position between an arm of the frame and said pivoted U-shaped clamping element, means to secure said clamping element and adjacent arm in clamped position, and means carried by each of said clamping elements disposed to one side of the center of the bight portion of the main frame about which the pull cord of a Venetian blind may be looped to vary its effective length.

4. A device of the character described for use with a Venetian blind, including a substantially U-shaped frame, a pair of independent spaced clamping elements, each movably connected to the frame, each of said clamping elements having a part formed to be moved into clamping relation with a supporting tape of the Venetian blind and means freely projecting upwardly from the bight portion of the frame and to which the pull cord of the blind maybe connected, whereby to vary the effective length of said pull cord and to retain the blind in its adjusted position.

5. In a device of the character described, a

support, a clamping element movably connected to the support, said clamping element having a part formed to be moved into clamping engage- 75 ment with the support, means carried by the clamping element to which the pull cord of a Venetian blind may be connected, to vary the eiective length o! said pull cord, and means for retaining the clamping element in clamped relation with the support.

6. In a device of the character described, a support, a clamping element movably connected to the support, said clamping element having a part formed t0 be moved into clamping engagement with the support, and means carried by the clamping element to which the pull cord 0f a Venetian blind may be connected, to vary the effective length of said pull cord and izo-retain the clamping element in its operative position relative to the support.

7. A device of the character described for use with a Venetian blind. including a substantially U-shaped frame, a pair of independent spaced 5 clamping elements, each movably connected to the frame, each of said clamping elements having a part formed to be moved into clamping relation with a supporting tape of the Venetian blind and means freely projecting upwardly from the 10 bight portion of the frame and to which the pull cord of the blind may be connected, whereby to vary the eiiective length of said pull cord.

BEN BENNETT. 

